Bombay HC allows hotels to remain open till 5 am for New Year's party

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has extended the deadline for New Year's Eve parties and has allowed all establishments - hotels and restaurants- to remain open till 5 am.

Giving the order, the HC said, "It is traditionally a night that people spend with friends and family till morning. There is no valid reason to clamp down on what little is left of the city's night life."

However keeping the security of the people in mind, it has asked the hotels and restaurants to make provisions for adequate security and safety both within and around the establishments. "If there is any untoward incident then petitioners as an association will be held responsible," the HC said to Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR), which had filed a petition in the Bombay High Court seeking extension of the deadline till 5 am. The petitioner had asked why 5 star hotels were allowed to stay open till 3 am while others were not.